- Jurisdiction
- Michigan
Hello.
I have worked as an RN at a nursing home for about 3 years.
typically the unit I work on has 2 nurses for 30 patients. Today I went to work and was informed that I would be working the unit by myself from now on. Since we are short on help my company usually uses a staffing agency when we are short, so I suspect the reduction from 2 nurses to 1 nurse is due to a budget issue. these places are always saying they don't make money. Yeah, sure.
At any rate I refused to take the assignment. I contacted my supervisor over text and told them that I can't provide safe care for 30 patients. I received no response. So after an hour I went home but first told them I would come back to work if they got another nurse or I would work another unit. Shortly thereafter I get a text from the administrator. She asked why I refused the assignment and I told her my reasons. She then goes on to say that they are within staffing guidelines and therefore I quit without notice by refusing the assignment.
here is the thing; there is no nurse/patient ratio. It all goes on "licensed staff" which also includes nursing assistants(CENAs) so in theory they could have 1 nurse for 200 patients so long as they had enough "licensed staff"
I told her its not safe, last weekend that very same unit in 1 day had 2 falls and one patient with dementia elope from the building and he was found on the sidewalk next to the main road....all that with 2 nurses.
So basically they are saying I quit to try and get out of an unemployment claim, its just a word game. I have already filed a claim but have also gotten my resume updated and applied for a couple jobs.
The American Nurses Act states that I have a duty to refuse an unsafe assignment and to notify management of unsafe conditions.
I did just that and I was fired.
So 2 quesions:
Do I have a whistleblower lawsuit?
Do I have a valid unemployment claim?
I have been a good employee for 3 years, no disciplinary actions, no issues, good annual reviews.
I have worked as an RN at a nursing home for about 3 years.
typically the unit I work on has 2 nurses for 30 patients. Today I went to work and was informed that I would be working the unit by myself from now on. Since we are short on help my company usually uses a staffing agency when we are short, so I suspect the reduction from 2 nurses to 1 nurse is due to a budget issue. these places are always saying they don't make money. Yeah, sure.
At any rate I refused to take the assignment. I contacted my supervisor over text and told them that I can't provide safe care for 30 patients. I received no response. So after an hour I went home but first told them I would come back to work if they got another nurse or I would work another unit. Shortly thereafter I get a text from the administrator. She asked why I refused the assignment and I told her my reasons. She then goes on to say that they are within staffing guidelines and therefore I quit without notice by refusing the assignment.
here is the thing; there is no nurse/patient ratio. It all goes on "licensed staff" which also includes nursing assistants(CENAs) so in theory they could have 1 nurse for 200 patients so long as they had enough "licensed staff"
I told her its not safe, last weekend that very same unit in 1 day had 2 falls and one patient with dementia elope from the building and he was found on the sidewalk next to the main road....all that with 2 nurses.
So basically they are saying I quit to try and get out of an unemployment claim, its just a word game. I have already filed a claim but have also gotten my resume updated and applied for a couple jobs.
The American Nurses Act states that I have a duty to refuse an unsafe assignment and to notify management of unsafe conditions.
I did just that and I was fired.
So 2 quesions:
Do I have a whistleblower lawsuit?
Do I have a valid unemployment claim?
I have been a good employee for 3 years, no disciplinary actions, no issues, good annual reviews.